By Ishola Michael
The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice has urged students of tertiary institutions to break the culture of silence and speak out against gender-based violence (GBV) on campuses.
The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barrister Sabiu Adamu Gumba, made the call at a one-day sensitisation campaign organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the Faculty of Environmental Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Gumba said the campaign was aimed at sensitising students and university staff on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPP) and other laws protecting citizens from GBV.
He urged students to speak up whenever they experience or witness violence, warning against remaining silent because silence could encourage perpetrators.
“Don't trade sex for marks. Don't trade sex for personal gratification, cheating, or what have you. Whenever an incident occurs, speak up. Don't remain silent,” he said.
Gumba explained that the VAPP Law, enacted in Bauchi State in 2022, provides for offences including intimidation, assault and rape, among others, with penalties for offenders convicted by a competent court.
He, however, stressed that the Ministry of Justice would uphold the rights of all parties, including accused persons, until a court of competent jurisdiction determines their guilt.
The Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Technology, Prof. Adamu Babayo, said the programme would help students and staff understand the consequences of actions that violate gender rights and relationships.
He said students participating in the programme were selected from different levels and departments to enable them to take the message to their colleagues and communities.
Babayo also noted that GBV could affect both males and females and called for greater involvement of the university community in preventing and addressing such violations.
The Executive Director of Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), Elizabeth Carr, represented by Bulak Afsa, urged students and staff not to cover up cases of GBV, saying reporting such incidents could help protect victims and deter potential perpetrators.
She assured that members of J4PD would continue to professionally support efforts to combat GBV on campuses across the state.
Representatives of the Ministries of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, and Health and Social Welfare, in their goodwill messages, commended the initiative, describing it as important to the fight against GBV.
Some students also commended the Ministry of Justice for taking the campaign to the university, saying the programme had broadened their understanding of gender-based violence and how to respond to it.
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